KTM 350 EXC-F: A Conclusion

 

KTM’s “Ready-to-race” mantra sticks to the 350 EXC-F for sure - but this motorcycle is more than a race bike.

Every part of this motorcycle was designed to perform.  It sums up to a very agile, predictable and easy to drive off-road bike in all trail conditions.  Surprisingly, it also makes the 350 EXC-F an ideal motorcycle for off-road neophytes as it easily forgives mistakes.  However, there are fine prints: the bike does not fit everyone.  As an example, with my 5’9” frame, I had to adapt to the seat height.  But once you’re off, the experience is unique.

In 5 points, what I liked the most about this bike:

1. lightness: at more than 10 Grand (Canadian), we may ask what exactly we are paying for.  The answer is rather unusual, but we are paying for something we don’t want: extra weight that would impact negatively the 350 EXC-F’s agility.  At only 240 lbs. (109 kg), this bike is the reference in the matter;

2. the engine: I was surprised by the engine’s efficiency – a 350cc which has more punch than I originally expected.  This small mono is smooth at low RPMs and has enough torque to have fun.  There is also power in higher revs – I reached speeds that are way above highway limits.  On no occasion while riding the KTM was I under the impression that the engine was short on power or deficient – KTM announces an hefty 45 hp!

3. ground clearance: it is huge, stratospheric, impressive.  The ground clearance on this motorcycle will let the rider go anywhere without the hassle of an impact with a big rock.  However you can’t have your cake and eat it too: because of the ground clearance, the rider must deal with a sky high seat;

4. suspension: it absorbs obstacles on its path with disconcerting ease;

5. narrowness: the bike is so thin that it sneaks in anywhere.  This was extremely useful on many occasions.

I could certainly add more items to the list, but it can be summarized to this: the bike has been engineered without compromise to excel in all off-road situations.

On the other hand, of course there are negative points.  So here is what I dislike in 5 points:

1. seat: unless one rides nearby trails week after week, it is required to travel long distances on paved roads to reach new paths.  After a few experiences, the seat will gradually erode one’s enthusiasm.  There are aftermarket seats that could help in this area (SeatConcept manufactures one).  Towing the bike is an alternative solution;

2. autonomy:  many bikes have an autonomy issue.  With only 112 miles (180 km) of autonomy, the KTM requires to carefully plan adventure rides according to the location of gas stations along the way.  Also, it runs on high octane fuel, some gas stations only offers regular – an issue I had to deal with on my test ride;

3. wind protection: riding most dual sport motorcycles at 65 mph (110 km/h) for hours on the highway makes you feel like a fish out of water – it applies to the 350 EXC-F as well;

4. maintenance: high performance parts of the KTM require rigorous maintenance.  As an example, the piston must be serviced after 105 hours of normal use.  Unless one is an advised mechanic, maintenance fees can escalate rapidly if the bike is used regularly;

5. practical aspect: it is not possible to have a passenger and it is difficult to carry anything - this is simply not a bike designed with this in mind.

Despite the drawbacks mentioned above, riding the 350 EXC-F was a pretty satisfying off-road experience.  My only regret: I ran out of time due to circumstances out of my control and I could not ride the bike in all the trails I had planned…hopefully, the end of the world will be postponed again and I’ll get another chance.

I don’t think I exaggerated when I described the 350 EXC-F as the dual sport Ferrari.  The price tag is high when compared to other bikes in the same category, but considering this bike as the sum of KTM’s “savoir faire” accumulated over the years – just think about Dakar rally victories – it is possibly a bargain.

Thanks to KTM Canada loaning the bike and thank you for sharing!

DSAQ

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KTM 350 EXC-F 2013: Papineau Labelle Wildlife Reserve Ride Part 4

See part 3

The teenager’s father that I had met earlier was right: Lake Croche road was great to ride.  It was a little more technical than Scotch road I had taken before getting there.  The 350 EXC-F, however, made this road pretty easy for the rider – the KTM off-road capabilities are far beyond everything I had ridden so far;  its stratospheric ground clearance freed my attention from anything on the road including large rocks on upward slopes – which makes off-road riding an even more satisfying experience.

KTM 350 EXC-F with Lake Croche in the background

2:04 p.m.  A stop near Lake Croche While I was riding in the area, I saw a small opening in the forest leading to the lake.  It was a small access to the lake with an area of about 200 square feet – enough place for a couple of tents.  I also saw traces of a camp fire. Camping and moto adventuring is probably something I’ll try in the future.

A nice section on Lake Croche road.

2:09 p.m. A little more rugged section.  As I was saying earlier, this is no challenge for the KTM – with its large wheels and long travel suspensions, the 350 EXC-F took only one bite of this road.

 

Forest trail near Lake Croche

2:20 p.m.  Forest trail.  At the end of the Lake Croche road there is a forest trail.  The contact with nature here was awesome.  I had the impression of being a little lost, but that is exactly what I like about moto adventuring: breaking the routine and filling my head with nice memories. I would have continued further on this trail, but there was a muddy section and I had had my dose for the day… (see part 2).

 

2:27 p.m. Another trail.  Turning around was the right thing to do -giving me the opportunity to follow a trail I had seen earlier from the road (on the picture). Once again, with the right bike, this section was a piece of cake!

 

2:33 p.m. On the bridge.  I should have brought along a patio chair and a couple of beers.  I would have stayed here for a while just looking around and appreciating the moment.

2:44 p.m. That’s it?!  I wish that trail had been 10 times longer!  On the picture on the left, you can see the signs on the main road. What a surprise: I had no clue I could reach Lac des Plages from the park – that’s what the signs read.  25 miles (40 km) of off-road riding.  It’s a date.

 

Another view of the area.  You can see the KTM further on the right side.

Then is there a challenge for the 350 EXC-F?

All the roads I tried so far were quite easy with the KTM.  The real challenge, especially for the driver…its the monotony of highways.  After I rode out of the park, I had to drive back on regional roads and highways for 90 miles (140km) non-stop to go back home.

The suspension of the bike was too softly adjusted to ride at more than 60 mph (100km/h) for a long period of time.  I would have needed a tool to temporarily adjust the front suspension for the occasion, which would have prevented the front wheel from occasionally jiggling - it was annoying.

There is no wind protection: going faster than 65 mph for hours is a prowess on a dual purpose bike in general – the KTM is no exception.

Comfort wise, it is ok as long as your brain is doped with adrenaline – that is, riding trails.  But on paved roads, the longer the trip, the harder the seat feels, and this is exponential… which probably explains why the 5 –6 hours I rode the bike off road seemed much shorter (and fun!) than the hour and a half I spent on the highway…

To be continued…the conclusion.

DSAQ

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KTM 350 EXC-F 2013: Papineau Labelle Wildlife Reserve Ride Part 3

See part 2

Maskinongé Bay

12:28 p.m. Commuting between Scotch road and Namur.  I left Scotch road heading towards the Namur gas station with less than half of the gas tank and about 35 miles (50 kms) to go. I was not too preoccupied, I knew I could do it without running out of gas. So, I left Scotch road, followed Harrington road which becomes the Maskinongé road – this fun road is in major part unpaved.  I enjoy this ride which runs along the Red river, crosses quiet rural areas and borders the beautiful Maskinongé Bay.

Then came Boileau road: a few curves and straight lines before reaching Namur.  It was particularity quiet on that Sunday afternoon, so I thought:  “Let’s check this baby out!”  80…100..120… still some revs…130…135…140 km/h (87 mph)…pretty good for a 350cc!  Really no issues on the highway – as long as it’s not too long!…

On the comfort side, it could be better: this becomes obvious when you have to sit still on the bike for a moment.  Of course, one needs to understand that this is a motocross with mirrors and flashers – it is almost a privilege to be able to legally ride this type of bike on paved roads and is a major advantage for connecting between trails - a must for adventuring!

35 miles (50 kms) later, I reached the Namur gas station…: “Phew!  The gas tank is almost empty!” I could see the bottom of it due to the white semi-transparent plastic it is made of… but the gas problem was not over yet:  Wut!?!?!  The gas station is closed?!

F…!  I had about 95 miles (150 kms) on the bike at that moment and really the last thing I needed was to run dry!  “How the heck is it possible for a gas station to be closed on a Sunday afternoon?!  Can’t they hire a student on weekends?”.  Well, after giving it some thought, it was the beginning of the hunting season: it was just bad timing.  I saw a resident not too far away, walked over to him and asked about the next gas station.  He gave me the directions: 5 miles (8 kms) south in Cheneville, in the opposite direction.  Well, I had no choice...  I decided I would fill up and come back to Lac des Plages (Beaches Lake) for the real bike test.  

So Cheneville, here I come!  I was riding slowly to save gas… I was getting pretty nervous.  15 minutes later: “Well! I made it!  So where is that darn gas station?  WHAT!?  Closed!!”  Damn!  The gas station was closed for a couple of weeks – my goose was cooked!  Once again a couple of local residents gave me the directions to the next gas station: 8 miles (12 kms) down the road in Montpellier.  “I’ll never make it… less than an inch of gas in the tank”.  Since I had no choice, I followed the 315 south to Montpellier… and most likely would have to give up my plan to head back to ride at Lac des Plages… going all the way back there seemed like a mountain at this point (I was running out of time).  

On my way to Montpellier I was riding at about 45 mph (70 km/h), following the car in front of me for the backdraft hoping to save gas… I was willing to try anything!  But, just in case, I got mentally prepared for having to walk a few miles to the next gas station.

Suddenly, I crossed the “Baie de l’Ours” road..Woot! Woot!  There was a flash in my mind: I went to Parc Papineau-Labelle last year and I remembered this road...  I would go for my offroad ride in the Park instead of heading all the way back to Lac des Plages - my day would be saved!  At the same moment the gas light turned on and I saw the gas station at the end of the road.  Phew!!  I made it!  That was a very close call!  My heart stopped cold when I saw no light in the gas station… but it was a false alarm: the door was not locked and there were people inside.. Thank God!!!

After 110 miles (179 kms), the tank was dry and I was able to put around 2.8 US gallons (almost 11 liters) of gas.  After a quick calculation, that meant about 40 miles per US gallon (6 l/100km) - not what I would call economic, but considering that I had been riding trails, going through mud, playing in a sand pit and running the bike at high speed for a moment… ok, add a couple of mpg.  Well, still not easy on gas.

Let’s get back to the point. So while I was inside the store to pay for the fuel, I noticed a teen with his parents around the KTM -needless to say he was very interested by the bike.  KTM has succeeded in making attractive bikes that capture the imagination…  In fact, earlier that day I crossed a bunch of dirt bike riders – they were all riding KTM’s.

I told the teen’s father about my “gas prospection” story and my intention to go for a ride in the park.  He knew the area pretty well  and recommended a couple of spots to try – particularly the Lac Croche road which is very appreciated by dirt bike riders.  I thanked him and headed back to “La Baie de l’Ours” road which leads to the Papineau-Labelle park.

Exploring Papineau-Labelle Park, 1:46p.m.

 

Lac Croche road entrance, 2 p.m.

To be continued…see part 4

DSAQ

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KTM 350 EXC-F 2013: Papineau Labelle Wildlife Reserve Ride Part 2

See part 1

Scarecrow near the former Kilmar mine railway.

10:30 a.m. No luck.  I do not know who put this scarecrow here, but one thing is certain: this person knew what they were doing: it is a clear warning – don’t! I walked to the middle of the flooded road to convince myself even more. I had knee-deep water ... and the water level kept rising. How very unfortunate! This section is the missing link to complete the loop around Black Lake: the view is nice there – probably a good (e.g. challenging) section to include in a rally ... Now that I think about it, a Panoramio user, Karlos Gibeault gave me more information about this road:  “...I went with my car last week (May 8, 2012) and we were able to cross with a Jeep YJ ... by the way, this is not a road, but the former railway that connected Kilmar mine to the processing plant at Marelan,  at each end, there's a factory, it is not for nothing!!”  So based on this affirmation, it should be possible to pass!

An overview of Black Lake and the railway …

An overview of the former railway from Google Map. The railway leading to Black Lake (Lac Noir) is almost completely flooded: see the zoom in the upper right corner of the image.

[At the same point] An alternative path?  It was not the first time that I saw this trail, but I had never dared to adventure in it before because of its apparent roughness a little further…but with the KTM it was different.  I was hoping that this path would lead to further discoveries in the area…

Not quite! There were many obstacles: deep mud, logs and trees whipping me on my way with their branches.  There were some nice sections, but too few.

On many occasions I had to push the bike through deep mud.  On some others, I had to lift the back of the bike to change its direction to be able to continue.

At least I learned something here: the 350 EXC is light enough to go through any situation.  I was tired after this experience, but I could not have done it with a much heavier bike.  Out of 10, I’d give the 350 EXC an 11 for its lightness.

Unfortunately, this path was a dead end.  I was totally lost in the middle of this forest.  When I looked at Google map afterwards, I was heading through Lake Cook – with no hope to connect to any other trails in the area.

The motorcycle was covered with mud at that point.  The folks at KTM Canada had given me their blessing a few days before –  allowing me to go through all those obstacles with peace of mind!

I took a moment to relax, take a few shots and appreciated the calmness far from everyday burdens.  Then I had to go back through all those mud holes backwards!

 

11:30 a.m. Out of the woods.  After my journey out of the woods: I rode the old railroad backwards, I followed the 6e Concession road (one of my personal favorite challenges); then connected to Scotch road.  A stop at the sand pit was a must to see how the beast would behave in such conditions.

I met “Le Bleuet” there:, a rider on RidAventure.ca forum.  He took this picture while I was starting the bike prior to diving into the sand pit.  I was hoping to have a short movie to share my “prowess”, but unfortunately it did not work out with the camera.

I had quite a blast with the KTM even if I have only had a few experiences in sand pits - the bike performs pretty well in this type of situation!  I let “Le Bleuet” - who used to ride dirt bikes - have a try.  Here he is in the video.

 

Entrez la légende de la vidéo ici

After this, I continued on Scotch road with “Le Bleuet” to the end of the road.  He was riding a heavier adventure bike.  I realized that I had quite an advantage with the small 350 EXC in rough road conditions – I lost him from sight a couple of times before reaching the end of the road.  Then “Le Bleuet” was heading East, I was heading West, we shook hands and left our separate ways.

To be continued…Part 3

DSAQ

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KTM 350 EXC-F 2013: Papineau Labelle Wildlife Reserve Ride Part 1

Sunday, September 16 2012 - Patience paid off. For 3 days I could only admire the snazzy KTM 350 EXC-F in my garage.  Other priorities prevented me to go for an adventure ride with the “Ferrari” of dual sport bikes.  But finally, the perfect day presented itself: no rain on the horizon, sunny and 64 F (18 C) degrees as a maximum - perfect conditions.

But before leaving, I made ​​some adjustments that were beneficial:

1. I removed the visor on my hybrid helmet - it has the effect of a parachute on the highway with a dual-sport motorcycle.  So much for the look;
2. I adjusted the mirrors - returning from St-Bruno, Qc where I picked up the bike a few days earlier, I realized on the highway that the mirrors were very, very well secured, which is a good thing, unfortunately in a position that did not suit me well;
3. As the bike is pretty high, I got used to removing the kickstand before sitting  - a lot easier!

With the 350 EXC-F, I had to use my imagination and all the pockets of my jacket and my pants since there is obviously no suitcase or anything to carry some goods in.  This way, I could carry my usual equipment: camera, iPhone, 2 cans of energy drink, cereal bars etc etc..

And finally, a precaution: the fuel tank on the KTM is 10 liters with the reserve, so I planned for refuelling along the way... I will get back to this.

8:45 a.m., departure, heading to Lac des Plages village, through:

• 344 along the Ottawa river, then
• head to Staynerville road,
• Montee Hall,
• Dumoulin road,
• Rawcliffe,
• 6e concession,
• Scotch road,
• Huntington road,
• Maskinongé road,
• …
• and a stop at Namur village for refuelling.  So I thought…

The planned ride, about 140 km from (A) St-Eustache to (C) Lac des Plages with a gas stop at Namur (B)

 

 

West Staynerville Road

09:53 a.m. A gravel road… woot woot!  After 40 miles (60 km), I finally reached West Staynerville road.  I could probably have done this faster, but the ride alongside the Ottawa river (344) is always nice. At last! I could try the bike on a path that sticks a little more to what it was designed for. I opened the throttle and some adrenaline  flowed through my veins. Finally! - This is the reason I worked so hard planning all the steps to get there - you can’t imagine – riding a KTM in the conditions where it excels, what a great start!

 

10:02 a.m.  On the Hydro road near Montée Hall. This road, I had looked at it often in the past: access is obstructed by concrete blocks, but the KTM is so narrow that it can sneak in everywhere. This is a major advantage! +2 I often wondered what was at the end of that road - I thought that somehow I would be able to join the Scotch road from here, but no... Crap!  The road is blocked a mile further with a padlocked fence. No way around it. WWHHHYYYY?! Hydro roads are interesting for motorcycle adventuring!  Those lands are supposed to be public!  Frustrating!

Chemin Hydro, près de Montée Hall

Anyway, continuing southbound on the Montée Hall, I joined another gravel road (Dumoulin road) along highway 50 and the path that leads to Rawcliffe road. One thing lead to another, I borrowed my usual trails in the area through the 6th concession.

I appreciated the lightness of the bike and its handling on hotter trails. Everything became so easy, it was night and day with my usual bike that weighs almost twice as much. Normally, I drive with caution in rocky trails, but with the high ground clearance of the KTM, its large diameter wheels (21 and 18 inches) and long travel suspensions, the same routes seemed to be made of pavers - fantastic!

This was a total bliss until I reached the next section of this awesome road:

 

To be continued…See part 2

Ciao!

DSAQ

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